Folding mechanism



Fi led my 4, 19s: a Sheets-Sheet 1 )ZVENTOR Oct. 8, 1935.

C. S. QRAFTS momma MECHANISM Filed May 4, .1953

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 fie-z Oct. 8, 1935, Q. s. cram-"rs FOLDIQG MECHANISM Filed May i, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 l L A ATTORNW Oct. 8, 1935. c. s. CRAFTS FOLDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed. May 4, 1953 ATTORNE Filed May 4, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. c. s. CRAFTS FOLDING MECHANISM Fil ed May 4, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. c. s. CRAFTS 2,016,486

FOLDING MECHANISM Filed May 4, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 v i/NgNTOR MVVL ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. v c. s. CRAFTS 2,016,486

FOLDING MECHANISM Filed May 4, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES FOLDING MECHANISM Curtis S. Crafts, Oak Park, 111., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, lll., a

corporation of Illinois Application May 4, 1933, Serial No. 669,307

16 Claims.

be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:--

Figure l is a vertical transverse sectional view, looking towards the-folder cam, of the folding cylinder and associated parts in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention;

25. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section, of

the folding cylinder and pin-operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the parts shown in Figure 3, but with these parts in pinretracting position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the folding cylinder and showing the pinactuating mechanism;

Figure 6 is an end view, partially in section, of the gearing at pin-actuating end of the cylinder for driving the cylinder-and pin-actuating mechanism;

Figures 7 to 18 are diagrammatic views illustrating the successive phases in a complete cycle of operation, as carried out by the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings;

Figures 19 to 28 are similar diagrams showing the complete cycle of operation as carried out by a modification of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6; and

' Figure 29 is a detail elevation of the cam for actuating the folding blades of the illustrated 50. embodiment; and

Figure 30 is a detail elevation of a modified form of pin-actuating cam for use with the present invention.

The present invention has for its object the 55 provision of a novel and improved rotary folding mechanism particularly adapted for use with printing presses. A further object is the provision of a rotary folding and collecting mechanism in which the sheets are collected on the folding cylinder and the sheet impaling pin or other 5 sheet taking devices are operated with minimum frequency. Still another object is the provision of a folding and collecting mechanism optionally operable to collect or not, or to collect different numbers of sheets prior to folding and thus to 10 vary the number of pages comprised in the prod not.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the folding mechanism 15 comprises a folding cylinder 5 provided with a plurality of folding blades and a similar number of sets of pin mechanisms, a cooperating cutting cylinder, and cam mechanism for operating the folding blades and pin mechanisms to fold off 20 a product each time a folding blade passes folding oif position or to collect a plurality of sheets on the folding cylinder prior to the folding off of the sheets from the folding cylinder by the folding blade. Means are also provided for op- 25 tionally varying the number of sheets collected to form a single product so that different sizes of products may be produced.

As embodied, the folding cylinder comprises a hollow cylinder l which is rotatably mounted by 30 means of its cylinder shaft 2 rotatably journalled in suitable bearings formed in the side frames 3,

3' of the folder. Cylinder I is keyed to shaft 2,

andis rotatably driven from the printing press at rollers 8. While these folding blades may be of any suitable construction, they preferably comprise a narrow blade 9 extending from near one end of the cylinder to near the other end of the 50 cylinder bolted to a sleeve ill which is fixed on the folding blade shaft l I.

Suitable pin mechanism is also provided on the cylinder I, and this may be of conventional construction.

As embodied, there are three sets of pin mechanisms spaced equally from each other and positioned immediately beneath the surface of the cylinder and each of these comprises a plurality of pins l2 axially alined and projecting through suitable apertures in the surface of the cylinder. Pins l2 are mounted on fingers I3 which are supported on shaft 14 which is rotatably journalled in bearings l5 near the ends of the cylinder, and adapted to be oscillated to project the pins through the surface of the cylinder to impale the lead end of the web, and afterwards to be withdrawn to release the sheets from the surface of the cylinder at the time of folding.

At one side of the folding cylinder I, and parallel thereto, is rotatably mounted a pair of cutting cylinders 5 and 6, cylinder 6 being provided with cutting blades, while cylinder 5 is the female cylinder and is provided with the cutting blocks. These cylinders may be mounted as shown in Figure 6 by means of shafts which are rotatably journalled in the side frames 3, 3'. The web W as it is delivered from the printing press, longitudinally folded or not, as desired, and comprising one or more associated webs of paper, is led between the cylinders 5 and 6 which cut it into sheet lengths. Cylinder 5 is provided with suitable sheet taking devices of conventional construction which takes the lead end of a. web and transfers the sheets after cutting to the folding cylinder, as will be later described.

Means are provided for operating the folding blades on the folding cylinder at a predetermined frequency, so that a group of sheets is folded off the folding cylinder and between the fold-off rollers 8 by means of each folding blade 9 once every revolution or each predetermined number of revolutions. As embodied, folding blade shafts 1! are provided, at one end, with a. head 11 mounted externally of the cylinder and securely fastened at its center to said shaft. At each end, head I! is provided with a freely rotatable roller l9 which runs on the inner surface of ring 59 which is concentric with the folding cylinder shaft 2 and is independently mounted on the side frame 3' at one end of the cylinder. Ring l9 preferably extends for substantially an entire circumference, but is formed with a narrow gap near its bottom to permit rotation of the folding blade shafts II when products are folded off from the cylinder. Ring I9 is of such a size and is so positioned with reference to the folding cylinder and rollers l8 that these rollers normally ride in contact with the inner surface of the ring and prevent movement of the folding blades except dur-' ing the folding-off operation.

At one end of cylinder shaft 2, and outside the side frame 3, is a gear 22 keyed to said shaft and meshing with a smaller gear 23 keyed to shaft 24 which is rotatably journalled in the side frame 3 and in an outboard bearing 25. Shaft 24, at its end nearest the folding cylinder 1, carries a single slot Husby cam, which may be formed integrally with shaft 24-and is positioned to cooperate with rollers 18 and impart a rapid half revolution to each folding blade as it is brought into operating position with reference to the foldoff rollers 8. Husby cam 26 operates upon the principle disclosed in the prior patent to Husby No. 871,038, to which reference may be had for a detailed explanation of the operation of this mechanism.

Shaft 24 is also provided with a gear 21, keyed to said shaft and adapted to mesh with a gear 28 of similar size slidably keyed on sleeve 30 which is loosely journalled on shaft 2 and may rotate relatively thereto. Gear 28 is held inv meshing relation with gear 21 by means of set screw 3|, but may be moved axially to place it out of mesh therewith for a purpose later to be described. The ratio of the various gears is such that the angular speed of shaft 24 is 50 per cent greater than that of shaft 2, and the angular speed of sleeve 30 is equal to that of shaft 24, so that sleeve 30 makes one and one half revolutions for each revolution of shaft 2.

Cam 26 differs from the usual form of Husby cam in that it is formed with a single slot 33 adapted to receive a roller 18 for actuating the folding blade. Slot 33 is offset and positioned slightly to one side of a diameter of the cam, and is also formed with a crescent-shaped cutaway portion 34 so that a roller 18 may be passed by the cam without actuation of the corresponding folding blade 9. The single slot 33 and the cutaway portion 34 cooperate so that when the cam 26 is rotated at per cent of folding cylinder speed each folding blade is actuated once every second revolution, this actuation comprising a half revolution of the blade, and producing one folding operation every four revolutions of cylinder Means are also provided for preventing movement of the folding blades 9 relatively to the folding cylinder when rollers iii are out of control of ring l9 and are to be passed through the cutaway portion 34 of cam 26. As embodied, a rotary shoe 35 having a relatively short arcuate face 36 adapted to contact with the inner faces of both rollers 18 on any one head 11 is mounted coaxially with the cylinder and rotated in timed relation thereto so as to be presented adjacent to the gap in ring H3 at the time rollers l8 are passing through the cutaway portion 34, there by holding the folding blades 9 against undesired movement. Shoe 35 is preferably formed as a part of sleeve 30 which is also provided with a counter-balancing portion 31. Shoe 35 and sleeve 30, as previously described, are loosely journalled on shaft 2 and rotated by means of gear 21.

Means are provided for actuating the several sets of pin mechanisms in proper timed relation with respect to the rotation of the folding cylinder and the operation of the folding blades, and for this purpose there is provided in the present embodiment a stationary cam 40 mounted at one end of the cylinder l on a side frame 3 by means of posts 4|. Cam 40 comprises a ring like member concentric with the cylinder shaft 2 which cooperates with the cam rollers 42 mounted at the inner ends of levers 43 which are fixed to one end of shafts M. The outer end of each lever 43 is bent and provided with a seat 45 between which and an abutment 46 on cylinder l is compressed a spring 41, serving to retract the pins l2 below the surface of the cylinder. Ring cam 40 is provided with a dwell 48 positioned with reference to the folding off rollers 8 so as to permit withdrawal of the pins 12 thereby to release the sheets exactly at the instant of folding.

In accordance with the present invention, and for effecting one mode of operation, means are provided for reducing the frequency of operation of the pins and for permitting them to operate only once each plurality of revolutions, and for this purpose an arcuate-faced member is provided to cooperate with ring cam 40 to silence the dwell 48. As embodied, bell crank 50 is pivrelease the sheets held thereby.

ota'lly mounted on stud 5| projecting inwardly from side frame 3 toward the folding cylinder. The lower end of hell crank is formed with an arcuate face 52 having the same radius of curvature as ring cam 40 and adapted to be positioned concentric therewith, or moved radially inwardly when it is desired to withdraw the pins I2 and The arcuate face portion of bell crank 50 is preferably rather thin and lies in a recess 53 formed in the outer side face 01 ring cam 40. In the position shown in Figure 3, the arcuate face portion 52 is moved concentric with the ring cam 40, and as the cylinder rotates, rollers 42 pass idly by the dwell 48 without operating the pins I2, while in the position shown in Figure 4, the dwell 48 is not masked, and the pins are withdrawn below the surface of the cylinder I to release the sheets held thereby, after which the pins are immediately projected beyond the surface of the cylinder to impale the lead end of the next sheet.

For moving the arcuate-faced portion 52 of bell crank 50 between its two positions and thus securing proper operation of the pin mechanism,

a box cam is provided and cooperates with cam roller 56 rotatably mounted on the upper end of bell crank 50, and runs in the cam groove 51 of box cam 55. Box cam 55 is rotatably mounted by means of shaft 58,to which it is keyed, said shaft being journalled in side frame 3, and box cam 55 is driven in timed relation with cylinder I by means of gear 50 fast to cylinder shaft 2, idler gear GI and gear 52 fast to box cam shaft 58. The gear ratio of gears and 62 is such with reference to each other and the speed of the press, that the cam 55 is driven at the same angular speed as the plate cylinders of the press, which is three quarters the speed of the folding and collecting cylinder I.

As shown in the illustrative embodiment in Figure 3 of the drawings, box cam 55 is formed with a cam groove 51 having a single dwell 64, to produce one movement of arcuate face 52 each revolution of the cam 55 and thereby effecting the release of a single group of sheets once each one and one third revolutions of the folding and collecting cylinder I. For collecting groups of two sheets, this cam may be formed with a cam groove 51 having two dwells 54 as shown 'in Fig. 30. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, one set of pins is actuated once each one and one-third revolutions, or in other words, every fourth set of pins to pass the folding-oil position is actuated at the time of folding. In case cam 55! is provided with two dwells, the pin operation is twice as frequent, or every two-thirds revolution of the folding and collecting cylinder.

Figure 29 of the drawings shows a modified form of Husby cam 26 provided with two parallel blade actuating slots 33, which is adapted to be used to fold off a product each time each folding blade passes folding off position. When cam 26 is employed, cam 55 is stopped, so that the shoe 52 is held in the position shown in Fig. 3 for operating each set of pins every revolution of cylinder I.

When folding off a product each time a folding blade passes folding off position, or when collecting sheets in groups of two, a double bladed folding blade is preferably employed. Groups of two sheets may also be collected by using a single bladed blade with the actuating cam 26 of Fig. 29.

For non-collect runs, idler gear 5| is removed, and dog 10 is moved into engagement with gear 62 to hold it against rotation with the cam roller 56 engaging dwell 64 to retract shoe 52 and permit continuous operation of pin operating dwell 52.

The operation of the illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings may be explained with reference to the diagrammatic Figures '7 to 18 illustrating the several successive phases in a complete cycle of operation. As shown in these diagrams, the web W is led between the cutting cylinders 5 and 6, and the lead end of the web is taken by the impaling pins 66 which carry the web around the lower half of cylinder 5. Cutting knives 61 on cylinder 6 cooperate with cutting blocks 68 on cylinder 5 to out the web W into sheet lengths, and 'these sheets are transferred by their lead ends to the folding and collecting cylinder I by the operation of the impaling pins I2.

For convenience in identifying the several sets of pins I2 and folding blades 9,ln Figures 7 to 28, these three sets of pins have been designated as E, F and G, while. the three blades have been designated as A, B and C.

Figure 7 shows the mechanism of the illustrative embodiment of the invention being placed in operation with a single sheet S transferred to the folding cylinder I, the lead end of the sheet being impaled by pins G. Pins E are about to take the lead of the next succeeding sheet length,

as this sheet is pressed against pins E by cylinder 5.

Figure 8 shows the same parts after folding and collecting cylinder I has been rotated through degrees, and cylinders 5 and 6 have each been rotated degrees. As shown in this figure, the folding blade B is being actuated by its actuating mechanism, but does not operate to fold on the sheet from the cylinder inasmuch as blade .8 extends rearwardly from its shaft and is being rotated in a clockwise direction by its actuating mechanism. Pins E, F and G are not being operated as no sheets are being folded off.

Figure 9 of the drawings show the next phase in the cycle of operation, and as shown, shoe 35 is cooperating with blade C to prevent undesired movement of this folding blade. Each of the pins E, F and G now carries a sheet S and on the next one third revolution of cylinder I, to the position shown in Figure 10, a second sheet is impaled by pins G. In Figure 10, pins E are withdrawn simultaneously with the actuation of folding blade A, and the single sheet on this third of the cylinder is folded off between the folding rollers 8.

Folding and collecting cylinder I thereafter goes through a complete revolution, Figures ll, 12 and 13, without actuation of any of the folding blades or impaling pins, except for the idle operation of blade C in Figure 12. On the next one third revolution to the position shown in Figure 14, folding blade B is operated to fold off the sheets and simultaneously therewith pins F are withdrawn to release these sheets. As rotation of cylinder I continues, successive sheets are collected on the surface of the cylinder by means of the impaling pins, one folding blade is actuated each two thirds of a revolution of the cylinder I, alternate actuations of the folding blades serving to fold off products. Alternate blades, comprising those which are not actuated, are held against undesired movement by means of shoe 36 while the blades pass folding off position.

One and one third revolutions beyond the po- 75 are withdrawn and simultaneously with this action, the four sheets which have been collected on this portion of the cylinder are folded off by actuation of the folding blade A, this being the first complete product to be produced by the machine after it is started. Further rotation. of the cylinders repeats the successive phases in this cycle of operation except that one complete product is folded off each one and one third revolutions of the folding and collecting cylinderv .l, these folding operations corresponding to the operations shown in Figures 10, 14 and 18 of the drawings.

Utilizing double folding blades and a cam of the general type shown in Figure l for actuating the folding blades, and a cam of the general type shown in Figure 30 for actuating the impaling pins, the mechanism of the illustrated embodiment goes through a cycle illustrated in successive phases in Figures19 to 24 of the accomsheet lengths and these successive sheet lengths are transferred one by one to the folding and collecting cylinder l as it rotates, the lead end of each sheet being taken by a set of the impaling pins. Shoe ills rotatedat one andone half times the angular speed of the folding and collecting cylinder-l, as in Figures 7 to 18.

After the first complete revolution, each set of pins impales a single sheet, and as rotation of the cylinder continues, additional sheets are impaled by the pins. In the position shown by Figure 22, one and one third revolutions after the.

folding mechanism is set in operation, an incomplete product is folded off by foldingblade A and pins E are operated to release the sheets simul-' taneously with the folding operation- As also shown in this figure, a second sheet is collected on the cylinder by pins G, and when this sheet reaches folding-off position, Figure 24, the sheets are folded off between folding rollers 8 by means of blades C, pins G being operated simultaneously ing-blades and a cam of the general type shown in Figure 30 for operating the impaling pins. As.

shown in Figures 25 to 28, the folding blades are doubled, and shoe 3B is held stationary in its uppermost position so that it does not interfere with the operation of the folding blades. Inthis alternative method of operation, a product comprising a single sheet is folded off each one third revolution of the folding and collecting cylinder i, and the corresponding set of impaling pins is operated simultaneously with thefolding blades to release the sheets from the cylinder. The invention in its broader aspects is not limsition of the parts as shown in Figure 14, pins G ited-to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1.,Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, folding off rollers to cooperate with said blades, rotary cam means driven with said cylinder for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-off position, and other rotary means driven with said cam for controlling blades not actuated by the cam.-

2. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, folding oif rollers to co-. operate with said blades, rotary cam means driven with said cylinder for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-off position, rotary means concentric with said cylinder and driven with said cam and timed with respect to said cam so that successive blades are controlled alternately by said cam and said rotary means.

3. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, folding off rollers to cooperate with said blades, rotary cam means driven with said cylinder for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-off position, rotary means concentric with said cylinder and driven at the same angular speed as said cam, said rotary means serving -to prevent rotation of alternate blades while said cam 'actuates the other blades. v

*4. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades-mounted thereon, folding off rollers to cooperate with said blades, rotary cam means driven with said cylinder for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-off position, and optionally silenceable rotary means driven at the same angular speed as said cam for controlling blades not actuated by'the cam.

5. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon',foldingoif rollers to cooperate with said blades, means for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-off position androtary means for controlling the alternate bladesnot to be actuated'as these blades pass. folding-off position.

6. Folding mechanism including in combinetion a folding cylinder'having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, folding-off rollers to cooperate with said blades, means for rotating alternate blades as they pass folding-01f positlorna rotary meansv for controlling the intermediate blades as these blades pass folding-oil! position,

' and means. driving i rotary means faster than said. cylinder,

'7. Folding, mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding ternate blades as they pass folding-off position, a rotary means for controlling the intermediate blades as these blades pass folding-off position, optionally operable means for driving said rotary means faster than said cylinder and pin mechanism for retaining sheets on said cylinder and releasing them when a fold is made.

9. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, a rotary blade actuating cam for actuating alternate folding blades as the cylinder rotates, a stationary ring and a rotary shoe adjacent thereto and cooperating therewith to prevent rotation of said blades except when said blades are operated by said cam.

10. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, --a rotary blade actuating cam for actuating alternate folding blades as the cylinder rotates, a stationary ring and an arcuate member concentric therewith and means for rotating said arcuate member faster than said cylinder to hold the folding blades stationary at folding off position.

11. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, a rotary blade actuating cam for actuating alternate folding blades as the cylinder rotates, a stationary ring having a gap adjacent to the actuating cam, an arcuate member concentric therewith and means for rotating said arcuate member so that it is positioned away from said gap when a blade is actuated and is positioned at said gap when the blade is to pass said cam without being actuated.

12. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, a rotating cam for operating certain of said bladesas the cylinder and cam rotate and a circular ring and a rotatably driven arcuate member concentric therewith pre venting rotation of said blades except when said blades are operated by said cam.

13. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, a rotating cam for operating certain of said blades as the cylinder and cam rotate and a stationary ring and an arcuate member concentric therewith and rotated by said 5 cylinder preventing rotation of said blades when said blades are not operated by said cam.

14. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder having rotatable folding blades mounted thereon, a rotating cam for operating certain of said blades as the cylinder and cam rotate and a stationary ring and an arcuate member concentric therewith and rotated faster than said cylinder preventing rotation of said blades except when said blades are operated by said cam at the folding off position.

15. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder, an odd number of folding blades thereon, a single slot Husby cam for operating alternate blades as they are presented to said cam, folding rollers cooperating with said blades for folding ofi products from said cylinder, a rotary shoe coaxial with said cylinder and means for driving said rotary shoe faster than said cylinder for preventing movement of said blades relatively to said, cylinder as said blades are passed by the Husby cam without being actuated.

16. Folding mechanism including in combination a folding cylinder, an odd number of fold- 3o ing blades thereon, a similar number of sets of pin mechanisms, a single slot Husby cam for operating alternate blades as they are operatively positioned with respect to said cam, folding rollers cooperating with said blades for folding off 3 products from said cylinder, a shoe coaxial with said cylinder and driven faster than said cylinder for preventing movement of said blades relative to said cylinder except when said blades are to be actuated by said Husby cam, and a cam for op- 40 erating said pins and driven faster than said cylinder.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS. 

